Inlet fitting



June 17, 195s J. M.V ULANOVSKY T AL 2,839,333

INLET FITTING Filed-Dec. 9, 1954 w MAN Q H4 msm VW64WV. www... uw Mm KKc? A Y 3.3

ATT new United States Patent D INLET FITTING Jack M. Ulanovsky andRichard O. Lightfoot, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Paddock PoolEquipment Co., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California`Apparati@ December 9, 1954, serial Nq. 474,205 4 claims. (ci. 299-139)This invention relates to water inlet fittings for swimming pools, andmore particularly to water inlet fittings having both forward andlateral discharge openings.

It is customary to provide water inlet fittings for swim ming pools thatdischarge the water into the pool through axial or forward dischargeopenings. A plurality of these ttings may be embedded in the walls ofthe pool at predetermined spaced intervals and connected in series to asingle source of water supply.

This invention contemplates the construction of water inlet fittingshaving lateral discharge openings, as well as the forward dischargeopenings, the lateral discharge openings of the fittings beingpositioned substantially ush with the wall.

The primary object and accomplishment of the invention is the provisionof water inlet fittings for swim` ming pools having both forward andlateral discharge,

openings, so that a part of the water may be directed adjacent the wallsof the pool through the lateral discharge openings for wall cleansingpurposes, and wherein valving arrangements are provided for regulationof the relative volumes discharged axially and laterally.

In accordance with the invention, the valving is arranged so that flowthrough the two sets of` openings is interrelated. By adjusting 'flowthrough the forward openings more or less uid will be directed throughthe lateral openings. Since it is contemplated that a series of thenozzles will be used around the pool, the valving is effective toprovide a generally equal ow rate from each nozzle even though thepressure may diminish along the pressure pipe to which the nozzles areconnected. If all the .connecting pipes are of the same diameter, thenozzles may be set so that the forward outlet openings diminish in area,moving from the highest pressure position to the lowest. Or if theconnecting pipes are arranged in increasing diameters as the inletpressure decreases, the nozzles offer the advantage that they can beadjusted to give additional pin point regulation. When the pool has beenemptied, the forward discharge openings may be closed and waterdischarged only from the side discharge openings to scour an area of thepool wall around each outlet. When the pool is filled, the valving meansis adjusted to send a part of the discharge axially in the normalmanner, and a part laterally, to establish a continuous wall cleaningaction about the fitting.

Two forms of the invention are disclosed herein. In the first form theinlet fitting includes a hollow casing having an inlet neck and a flaredoutlet mouth. Within the mouth there is mounted a grill plate having anumber of holes drilled therein. A cover member is aflixed to the plate,but spaced from it so that an annular lateral discharge area isprovided. The cover member rotates to act as a shutter valve; i. e.,when outlet holes within it register with the holes in the grill plate,liquid can be discharged forwardly. Since lateral ow is never closedoff, it will be apparent that positioning the cover plate to seal ottmore or less of the forward discharge ports will also govern the volumeof lateral discharge.

Patented June 197, 1958 ce l In the second embodiment disclosed thecover member is permanently affixed to the casing. Forward dischargeopenings are cut out of the cover member. A shutter plate is movablymounted within the cover member to provide valving action. Since anumber of radial ports are drilled into the cover member, the valvingaction will increase lateral ow as the forward flow is closed oi.

Accordingly it may be stated that a prime object of the invention is toprovide a nozzle capable of controlled ow both forwardly and laterally.

It is another object ofthe invention to provide a fitting through whichfiuid may flow in either of two parallel paths, the valving of one pathcontrolling flow along the other.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a f1tting from whichforward ow may be valved with the result that lateral tlow is controlledthereby.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an inlet fitting foruse in cleaning the side Walls of a swimming pool by valving a forwardow to control lateral discharge which is effective to scour a wall areaabout the fitting.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the course of thedescription taken in conjunction with the following drawings:

Fig. 1 is an external view of the fitting showing both forward andlateral flow with respect to the side wall of a swimming pool;

Fig. 2 is a front view of one embodiment of the fitting;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the same embodiment, taken along the line3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front view of a second embodiment; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it will be seen that fitting 11 is normallymounted within side wall 12. Connecting pipe 13 supplies water from apressure pipe, not shown. By means of the unique valving action of theinvention, there is provided a controlled forward ow perpendicular tothe wall 12, and also a lateral ow along the surface of the Wall.

ln the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, body casing 16 hasan inlet neck 17 which is internally threaded for connection with pipe13. The casing 16 flares outwardly to a discharge mouth 18. The casingis cast so there are upstanding lugs 21 within the mouth 18. Lugs 2.1are internally tapped to provide thread engaging surface for screws 22.Screws 22 securegrill plate 25 against spacers 26. As will be seen bestin Fig. 3 the spacers determine the distance 27 between the end of mouth18 and the inturned annular ange 29 of cover member 30. This distancecan of course be varied depending on optimum operating conditions to beattained.

Cover member 3l) is carried adjacent grill plate 25 by means of centralscrew 31. A plurality of outlet ports 35 are drilled into the covermember. These can be brought into register with holes 36, which aredrilled out of grill plate 25.

In operation, it may be seen that water will ow through inlet neck 17and till the mouth 18 of the casing.

Two parallel discharge paths are then possible. Water may iiow laterallythrough the annular passage 27 and/or it may flow through holes 36 anddischarge ports 35. If member 30 is set so that the holes and ports arecompletely in register maximum forward flow will result. In intermediateor closed relation forward discharge pressure will be diminished or cutoff and lateral discharge pressure and flow correspondingly increased.This interdependent valving action can be utilized to give desiredoutput at any one fitting, and it can also be used to provide an optimumoperating condition for a series of fittings all tied to the samepressure pipe.

It will be seen that the lembodiment illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 isgenerally similar to that illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. In the interestsof simplicity like parts have y-been identically numbered, but areprimed.

It 'should be noted, 1that the cover member Sti is permanently andimmovably fastened to the body casing i6 by means of screws 22. In thisembodiment shutter plate 25 rotates within the cover member to providethe valving action. Also, instead of lateral flow occurring throughannular discharge area 27, flow is through ports 27 which are drilledinto flange 29. These ports 27" may be spaced through only 180 of are asshown in Fig.

4, or in any other preferred number of degrees around the periphery ofthe cover member 30. The illustrated 180 extent of arc is desirable whenthe fitting is installed in the pool close to the water level, in thatdischarge is then .downward only, and is prevented from rising above thewater level.

In operation of this second embodiment, ow is through inlet neck 17 andwithin mouth 13. The setting of `shutter plate 2.5' determines therelative division of water between the forward and lateral Hows. Sinceiluid pressure is eifective to press the movable valve grill plate 25'against the cover member 36', the embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5 will tendto maintain a set valving position somewhat better than will theembodiment of Figs. 2 and 3.

It will be seen that various changes may be made as a matter of designbut which will still be within the scope of the invention as describedin the claims.

We claim:

1. An inlet tting comprising: a casing having a fluid passage extendingtherethrough, a first apertured plate extending across one end of thepassage and rigidly iixed to the casing, a second apertured platebearing atly against and rotatably adjustable on the first plate, saidplates each having a plurality of spaced openings therethrough, theopenings in said plates being similarly located relative to the axis ofrotatable adjustment of the second plate so that all of the openings inthe latter plate are registered with openings in the rst plate in onerelative position of the second plate on the first piate to form aplurality of forward discharge openings and said second plate beingadapted to be angularly adjusted from said position to vary theeffective size of said openings, there being at least one lateraldischarge opening communicating with said passage directly behind saidplates, said angularadjustment of the second plate being adapted tosimultaneously control in inverse proportion :duid flow through saidforward and lateral discharge openings.

2. An inlet fitting comprising: a casing having a ytiuicl passageextending therethrough, 'a tirst apertured plate extending across oneend of said passage, means rigidly mounting said plate on and in spacedrelation to the adjacent end of the casing, a second apertured platerotatable on and bearing tlatly against the outer surface of the firstplate, said second plate including a peripheral flange extending towardsaid adjacent end of the casing and terminating in slightly spacedrelationship thereto to define therewith a lateral discharge openingcommunicating with said passage directly behind the rst plate, Atheapertures in said plates being registered in one position of the secondplate to form forward discharge openings, the second plate being adaptedto be angularly adjusted from said position to vary the size of saidforward openings `and thereby simultaneously control in inverseproportion iiuid ilow through said forward and lateral dischargeopenings.

3. The subject matter of claim 2 wherein said means comprises removablespacer means whereby the effective size of said lateral dischargeopening may tbe varied by interchange of said spacers with spacers of adifferent size.

4. An inlet fitting comprising: a `casing having a fluid passageextending therethrough, a closure rigidly iixed to one end of the casingand including an aperturcd plate portion extending across the adjacentend of said passage, au apertured plate rotatable on and bearing datlyagainstthe inner surface of said plate portion, said closure beingformed with at least one radially directed opening cornmunicating withsaid passage directly behind said plate and forming a lateral dischargeopening, said plate and plate portion each having a plurality ofopenings therethrough, the openings in said plate and plate portionbeing registered in one position of the plate to 'form a plurality offorward discharge openings, and said plate being adapted to 'beangularly adjusted from said position to vary the effective size of saidforward discharge openings and thereby simultaneously control in inverseproportion fluid flow through said forward and lateral dischargeopenings.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS302,542 Clemens luly 27, 1884 2,530,808 Cerasi Nov. 21, 1950 2,570,828Martin Oct. 9, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,089 Great Britain of

